Window construction



Filed Oct. 20, 1948 FIG.2

INVENTOR.. WILLARD A. SOUTH ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 8, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT osrice WINDOW CONSTRUCTION Willard A. South, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application October 20, 1948, Serial No. 55,471

5 Claims. (CI. 20-53) This invention relates generally to awningtype windows.

There are several problems connected with the construction of conventional awning-type windows which, by way of explanation, are windows which are hinged at the top on a horizontal axis and swing outwardly from the bottom. One of the problems involved with conventional awningtype windows is the collection of water in the joints between adjacent sash. Also the general appearance of conventional awning-type windows is architecturally more along commercial lines than for modern residences. It is since what of a problem to properly weather strip the type of windows which'are now in use.

Therefore, it is an object of my invention to provide an awning-type window of architecturally approved design which is pleasing to the eye and which is adapted to form a positive seal be tween adjacent sash and by overlapping the upper sash to produce a shingle effect the problem of water freezing in the joints between the sash is eliminated.

It is a further object to provide awning-type windows which can be selectively opened one at a time without opening any of the others or which may all be opened at once, whichever is preferred.

It is a further object in an alternative form to provide an awning-type window which conceals the side styles and head and bottom rails from view from the inside so that only the glass and the meeting rails in multisection windows are visible. This materially aids in presenting a simple modern appearance.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which;

Fig. 1 is a transverse central vertical sectional view of a multisash awning-type window embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a diminished view showing the window illustrated in Fig. l in front elevation as viewed from the inside of the building on which the window is used.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view showing the construction of the side frame members to conceal the sash styles.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view showing the relationship between a pair of meeting rails and the side frame member of Fig. 1 as taken along the plane of line 4-4 of Fig. 2.'

As illustrated in the accompanying drawings, I provide an awning-type window which is capable of use in either multiple sash construction or merely in single sash construction. In the form illustrated multiple tiers of overlapped sash are shown, and all of the jsash are of identical construction. Each sash has a bottom rail I, head rail 8, and side styles 9 as best shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

A double glazed window is used which has an inside pane l0, spacer elements I I around the periphery thereof, and an easily removable outside pane 12 with a suitable protective edging therearound, such as metal edging I3. The space between the two panes is ventilated by small weep holes la to permit condensation between the panes, if any, to be evaporated or to run out. By providing an easily removable outer pane #2 the double window which is necessary to provide insulation from the cold and prevent frosting of the windows is still extremely easy to clean. The weep holes la do not permit sufiicient air to circulate between the panes to allow the panes to frost up during cold weather, but do permit the moisture condensing between the panes to evaporate and thus keep the windows completely clear at all times.

I Each sash unit designated as an entirety by the letter A is suitably hinged on a pair of pivot pins I 4 fixed to the side frame members I5 of the window frame in horizontally opposed relation. The bottom rails of each sash may be rounded off as at 16 to permit the window disposed therebelow to be swung out individually without opening the adjacent window thereabove outwardly. The side marginal end portions of each of the upper'rails 8 of each sash are rounded off on a radius 812 with the axis of pivot pins 84 as a center, as'shown in Fig. 4 and by the dotted lines at 81) of Fig. l, to permit the same to be easily swung outwardly without binding against adjacent portions of the side stop members. The pivot pins M are centrally disposed in the end portions of the upper rails 8 of each sash, and the adjacent portions of the stop members may also be similarly curved to produce a relatively tight joint with the marginal end portions of the respective upper rails. Obviously, each radius portion 8b is to be semigilrcular in shape, as shown in the detail view of 4. I The individual sashes are easily weatherstripped around the peripheral edges thereof by conventional spring-type weather stripping, the side weather stripping being attached to the side frame members l5 and the weather stripping be-" tween the meeting rails is either attached to the top rail of the lower sash or the bottom rail of the upper sash, as best shown in Fig. 1.

As best shown in Fig. 3, an upstanding reinforcing member such as the steel T member I! is provided to carry the stress load if structurally necessary, and this T member I! is boxed in on the sides by members l8 and i8, on the inside by member l9 and on the outside by member I9. I have found that, by mounting conventional spring type weather stripping l8a along the in-- clined stile-abutting edge of each abutment member 18, an extremely efficient protected weather stripped joint will be provided between said abutment edge of the member I 8 and the engaged inside surface portion of' the side stile of the sash A. It should be noted that this weather stripped joint is protected from moisture and shielded from the wind and weather to provide a highly eflicient protected seal which permits a space to be provided between the ends of each sash A and the adjacent portion of the member 19' and thus eliminates the necessity of careful and accurate fitting of the sash in the frame as is usually necessary with conventional windows. A similar piece of weather stripping 8a is, in the form shown, mounted on the outer surface of each of the top rails 8 and is interposed between said top rails 8 and the respective lower rails of the adjacent sash. Of course, suitable weather stripping must be provided between the lower rail of the bottom sash and the sill stop 2| and between the top rail of the uppermost sash and the inwardly disposed trim piece 22. This weather stripping thus provides a continuous weather stripped joint around the entire inner surface of the top sash and around the inner surfaces of the stiles and bottom rails of the sash disposed therebelow with the top rail of each sash being sealed along the outside surface thereof. Any suitable means may be provided for camming the sash into tightly closed position such as the conventional sash locks 23 illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The frame members l completely conceal the side stiles of the sash and the members I8 provide sash stops which facilitate highly efiicient weather stripping of the windows. As best shown in Fig. 3, a plurality of buttons 9a are removably mounted in side stiles 9 and have a pane-retaining portion adapted to extend over the metal edging 13 of the pane l2 to securely hold said pane in position while permitting easy removal thereof for clean- The standard sash locks, as shown in the ac companying drawings, and friction arms mounted at the sides of the sash are the only additional hardware required for these windows. The s1mplicity of construction of the sash and the use of conventional hardware make this awning-type window extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture and at the same time provide a window construction which is very well suited for use in cold climates and which is easily weather stripped. Conventional sliding screens such as the screens may be provided on the inside of the windows.

It will be seen that I have provided an extreme- 1y simple, highly efficient awning-type window sash which is particularly adapted for use in cold climates and the sashes of which may be individually swung into open position without obstruction from the adjacent window thereabove and which, when completely open, will give 1 00 per cent ventilation. Each window may comprise one or more sash in vertical arrangement, and by providing the overlapping meeting rails to produce a shingle effect, a pleasing modern architectural design is produced and also moisture is prevented from collecting between the meeting rails of adjacent sash and freezing to cause damage to the sash and make it extremely difficult or impossible to open.

The weep holes la in the outer meeting rail 1 communicate directly between the air space between panes H) and I2 and the outside air. Being in the bottom sash rail 1 and extending straight downwardly therefrom, these weep holes 1a permit any moisture which may collect between the sash to completely drain out therethrough and maintain the air between panes l0 and I2 in a substantially dry condition. This is permitted only by the overlapped shingle construction of the windows whereby the outer meeting rail 1 is disposed in alignment with the inner meeting rail 8 of the sash disposed immediately therebelow to permit free and unobstructed communi cation through weep holesla.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts without departing from the scope of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. An awning type window structure comprising a head casing member, a sill spaced therebelow and two spaced side easing members rigidly interconnecting said head and sill, each of said side casing members having a plurality of stile abutting stops fixed thereto and said stops extending in respectively opposed relation toward one another from the respective side casing members, the stops on each side being inclined from the vertical to produce a serrated edge portion, a plurality of window sash each comprising a top rail with a bottom rail disposed in spaced relation therebelow and side stiles rigidly interconnecting said stop and bottom rails, horizontal pivot means pivotally interconnecting at least certain of said sash with the side casing members of the frame to provide for outward swinging movement of the bottom portion of each pivotally mounted sash on its horizontal pivotal axis, the positioning of said sash relative to each other being such that the bottom rail of one sash is positioned in overlapping relation to the adjacent top rail of the sash disposed therebelow when in closed position to form a pair of abutment sealing edges between the outside face of the top rail and the inside face of the bottom rail and produce an overlapping shingle effect between adjacent sash, the inclined stile abutting stops respectively extending toward each other a sufficient distance to overlap at least a substantial portion of the inside stile surfaces of the respec' tive side stiles of the sash to conceal at least a substantial portion of said inside stile surfaces from view from the inside and provide a wide, easily weatherstripped abutment joint between thehrespective stops and the side stiles of the sas 2. The structure set forth in claim 1 and means for positively locking said sash in closed position with the side stiles respectively abutted against the inclined stops and the lapped meeting rails of adjacent sash abutted in sealed engagement one with the other.

3. An awning type window structure comprising a head casing member, a sill spaced therebe low and two spaced side casing members rigidly interconnecting said head and sill, each of said side casing members having a plurality of stile abutting stops fixed thereto and said stops extending in respectively opposed relation toward one another from the respective side casing members, the stops on each side being inclined from the vertical to produce a serrated'edge portion, a plurality of window sash each comprising a top rail with a bottom rail disposed in spaced relation therebelow and side stiles rigidly interconnecting said top and bottom rails, pivot means pivotally interconnecting each sash with the side casing members of the frame to permit the bottom portions of said sash to be swung outwardly on the respective spaced horizontal axes thereof, the spacing between said pivotal axes being such that the bottom rail of one sash is positioned in overlapping relation to the adjacent top rail of the sash disposed therebelow when in closed position to form a pair of abutment sealing edges between the outside face of the top rail and the inside face of the bottom rail to produce an overlapping shingle effect between adjacent sash, the inclined stile abutting stops respectively extending toward each other a sufficient distance to overlap at least a substantial portion of the inside stile surfaces of the respective side stiles of the sash to conceal at least a substantial portion of said inside stile surfaces from view from the inside and provide a wide, easily weather stripped abutment joint between the respective stops and the side stiles of the sash, and the overlapping top and bottom rails of adjacent sash being of substantially equal vertical depth and said rails being positioned to substantially overlap one another whereby the bottom rails are respectively substantially concealed from the inside and the top rails are respectively substantially concealed from the outside.

4. An awning type window structure comprising a head casing member, a sill spaced therebelow and two spaced side casing members rigidly interconnecting said head and sill, each of said side casing members having a plurality of stile abutting stops fixed thereto and said stops extending in respectively opposed relation toward one another from the respective side casing members, the stops on each side being inclined from the vertical to produce a serrated edge portion, a plurality of window sash each comprising a top rail with a bottom rail disposed in spaced relation therebelow and side stiles rigidly interconnecting said top and bottom rails, pivot means 6 pivotally interconnecting each sash with the side casing members of the frame to permit the bottom portions of said sash to be swung outwardly on the respective spaced horizontal axes thereof, the spacing between said pivotal axes being such that the bottom rail of one sash is positioned in overlapping relation to the adjacent top rail of the sash disposed therebelow when in closed posi-' tion to form a pair of abutment sealing edges between the outside face of the top rail and the inside face of the bottom rail to produce an overlapping shingle effect between adjacent sash, the inclined still abutting stops respectively extending toward each other a sufficient distance to overlap at least a substantial portion of the inside stile surfaces of the respective side stiles of the sash to conceal at least a substantial portion of said inside stile surfaces from view from the inside, weather stripping mounted on one of the rails and interposed between adjacent rails, weather stripping mounted on said inclined abutment stops and interposed between said stops and the respective engaged portions of the inside surfaces of the window stiles to provide a protected weather stripped joint on the inside surfaces of the side stiles and between the top and bottom rails of the sash, and means for tightly clamping said sash into closed position to respectively seal the portions thereof against said weather stripping.

5. The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein all of said sash are pivotally connected to said side casing members of the frame.

WILLARD A. SOUTH.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 126,713 Kelly May 14, 1872 416,772 Anderson et al Dec. 10, 1889 1,527,502 Zeh Feb. 24, 1925 1,904,110 Willmann Apr. 18, 1933 3,7 3 Wilson Apr. 12, 1938 2,137,426 Thompson Nov. 22, 1938 2,302,740 Boicey Nov. 24, 1942 2,377,684 Firner June 5, 1945 2,530,708 Loewenthal et al. Nov. 21, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 225,676 Great Britain Dec, 11, 1924 

